Chocolate Cherry Brownies

4.54 from 13 reviews

These are no ordinary brownies! They are perfectly Fudgey brownies studded with luxurious Italian Maraschino cherries and iced with whipped White Chocolate Cherry Ganache. They are as pretty as they are delicious.

Prep Time30

Bake Time20

Cooling Time1

Total Time1 50

Servings:32 Brownies

Ingredients

Brownies

1 jar Italian Maraschino Cherries (see note)
9 ounces semi sweet chocolate (chopped)
8 oz unsalted butter
8 oz granulated sugar (1 cup)
4 oz brown sugar (½ cup)
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon cherry syrup
4 large eggs
5 oz all purpose flour (1 cup, see note)

Whipped White Chocolate-Cherry Ganache

8 oz white chocolate (chopped)
1 oz unsalted butter
2 oz heavy cream (¼ cup)
2 oz cherry syrup (¼ cup)
red food coloring (optional)

Instructions

Drain 1 jar Italian Maraschino Cherries, reserving the syrup. Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Butter a 13”x9” inch baking pan and line the pan in one direction with parchment paper or foil.
Combine 9 ounces semi sweet chocolate and 8 oz unsalted butter in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute, stir to combine. Microwave for 30 second increments, stirring between increments, until all the chocolate is melted. Add 8 oz granulated sugar, 4 oz brown sugar, ½ teaspoon salt,1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon cherry syrup to the chocolate, stir to combine.
Add 4 large eggs, stir until combined and then continue to stir vigorously for another 30 seconds. Add 5 oz all purpose flour, stir until combined. Fold in the cherries.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan. If needed, shift the cherries around so they are evenly spaced throughout the batter.
Bake until the brownies puff up a bit and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs (20-25 minutes). Cool completely in the pan before icing.
While the brownies are baking, make the ganache frosting. Microwave 8 oz white chocolate and 1 oz unsalted butter in 30 second increments until the chocolate is completely melted. Microwave 2 oz heavy cream until scalding hot and stir into the melted chocolate. Stir in 2 oz cherry syrup and a drop of (optional) red food coloring.
Set the ganache aside at room temperature until the brownies are cooled and ready to frost.
Use the parchment paper or foil lining to lift the brownies out of the pan onto a cutting board.
Whip the cooled ganache until it is light and airy but still soft enough to spread. Immediately spread the ganache onto the brownies and allow to set completely before cutting. At this point the brownies can be chilled to speed up setting the frosting.
Cut into 24 large or 32 small squares. Lift each brownie off the parchment paper and transfer to a serving platter.

Notes

If measuring the flour by volume use the “dip & sweep” method. That is, dip the measuring cup into the flour bin, overfill it, then sweep away the excess.

Italian Maraschino cherries can be found with the cocktail mixers in your local market. Since they are expensive, you can substitute regular maraschino cherries or dried cherries which have been soaked overnight in the liquor or fruit juice of your choice.

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